View Full Version : Belgrade taxi service
aleksandarwest
03-12-09, 15:55
Hi i m coming in Belgrade every 3 weaks and i have same problem every time,to find good taxi company. Now i just find best taxi company in city.Name is belgrade taxi and you can find them on www.belgradetaxi.com.Airport transfers and city tours for good price.All greathings from me and i hope in future aoll taxis in Belgrade will be like taxis in belgrade taxi service......see you
Hi i m coming in Belgrade every 3 weaks and i have same problem every time,to find good taxi company. Now i just find best taxi company in city.Name is belgrade taxi and you can find them on www.belgradetaxi.com.Airport transfers and city tours for good price.All greathings from me and i hope in future aoll taxis in Belgrade will be like taxis in belgrade taxi service......see you
:D u messed up your link.
I usually use beotaxi (970), almost all drivers are ex- cons, and they crack me up when they scream at other cars "idi bre u picku materinu!" and they're full of war stories from the past. Plus I love how they try to rip me off EVERY SINGLE TIME, I just smile at them and say "druze, dobar pokusaj ali nisam turist. imam popust 20%"
danilo_vancouver
03-12-09, 21:01
The majority of taxi drivers in Belgrade are scum, regardless of what company they drive for.
They'll rip you off, try to scam you on the change, use a fake meter, use no meter, threaten violence, be violent, try to charge more if they think you're desperate. Basically, apart from a few exceptions, they're idiots and scum of the earth
There is NO "good company".
Beogradski? are you kidding? Last time I left Belgrade, they tried to charge me 2 fares to the airport, because I was dropping someone off.
But hey, the cars definitely have this certain "eau de hobo's ass" je ne sais quoi that the other cabs haven't quite sunken to, so good on them!
danilo_vancouver
03-12-09, 21:04
Normally, I'd say "let's delete the spam account from beogradski taxi", but perhaps this is a good opportunity to open some sort of dialogue as to why taxi drivers are Belgrade's embarrassment. Waddaya say Alex?
to be fair most taxi drivers all over the world are dishonest not just Belgrade.
You can use this to your advantage. I'm a blackbelt on imposing my will on taxi drivers wherever i travel (a skill i perfected growing up in 3rd world country).If the guy says he won't put the meter you say, sure whatever u want chief. When it comes time to pay, give him what u think it's worth. if there's a problem, where's the proof? He didn't put the meter in the first place? Works every time. If the driver breaks your balls, tell him to call the cops! lol
danilo_vancouver
03-12-09, 21:18
perhaps I'm a BIT harsh, but it really is a crying shame that one has to deal with this ALL the time in what can be a nice, fun, interesting city.
perhaps I'm a BIT harsh, but it really is a crying shame that one has to deal with this ALL the time in what can be a nice, fun, interesting city.
dude i grew up in the Philippines, this is like everyday for me. No worries
rugbycoach
03-12-09, 22:27
The majority of taxi drivers in Belgrade are scum, regardless of what company they drive for.
They'll rip you off, try to scam you on the change, use a fake meter, use no meter, threaten violence, be violent, try to charge more if they think you're desperate. Basically, apart from a few exceptions, they're idiots and scum of the earth
There is NO "good company".
Beogradski? are you kidding? Last time I left Belgrade, they tried to charge me 2 fares to the airport, because I was dropping someone off.
But hey, the cars definitely have this certain "eau de hobo's ass" je ne sais quoi that the other cabs haven't quite sunken to, so good on them!
Danilo, when I read your posts I think we live in different cities. I use taxis almost every day and very rarely run across what seems to be your normal experience. In fact I find it refreshing that compared with the other countries in central, eastern and southern Europe I have worked I don't have to worry so much about arguing with rip-off taxis every ride.
Danilo, when I read your posts I think we live in different cities. I use taxis almost every day and very rarely run across what seems to be your normal experience. In fact I find it refreshing that compared with the other countries in central, eastern and southern Europe I have worked I don't have to worry so much about arguing with rip-off taxis every ride.
I have to agree with Rugbycoach here Danilo.
I use Lux most of the time, but also our firm uses Taxi Bel and National Taxi.
They are all consistently excellent.
I have only every had a stanica taxi try to rip me off and of course the now destroyed airport taxi mafia :-)
bad taxis are one of the crap things about BG:
http://www.belgradefvc.com/wiki/index.php?title=Crap_Things_About_Belgrade#Taxi_Ma fia_and_Jigged_Meters
Also see:
http://www.belgradefvc.com/wiki/index.php?title=Good_Things_About_Belgrade
danilo_vancouver
03-12-09, 22:54
Now that I think about it, I've never had trouble Lux. Never tried Taxi Bell and National. What are their numbers?
Maybe I have some sort of target on me. But, so far, I've been spat on, physically pulled from the cab and kicked for me telling him he was going the wrong direction (he was going in circles). (Maxi)
I was told, after loading all my bags to the airport that I'd have to pay 2X the 900din fare to the airport because I wanted to drop someone off on the way (beogradski)
Regularly get charged double (double the night rate) at night coming from splavs (any company).
Been given phone numbers to call them, if I need a cab, then repeated get called/texted for 200euro+ loans over the next days when I did (forget the company)
got ripped off coming from the airport 3000+ dinars a few times before I figured it out.
walked about of at least 5 rides when I see it's around 300 after the first block.
I've gone from being angry to furious to sanguine to avoiding cabs to relaxed about whatever may happen.
Now, honestly, I'm way less annoyed than I must seem to be on here. But I really have had some pretty outrageous experiences.
Danilo, it's your pink tu-tu....:)
danilo_vancouver
03-12-09, 23:44
I knew it!
crap :(
Danilo, it's your pink tu-tu....:)
Touché :)
[Damn, have to add this to defeat my own minimum post length setting!]
The worst taxi experience i had was coming back from the airport. The guy kept on asking me if I recognise him and was not very happy that I don't. He kept on turning towards me, asking me to look again, while driving really fast on a motorway. I usually don't say I live abroad but this time had to. He than said how he is going to Switzerland but how surprised he was he got a visa despite his name to which i asked is his name Slobodan Milosevic by any chance. The way he started to laugh i realised I am in the car with a lunatic and shortened my trip pretending I had to get out half way.
He was probably some criminal whos face was all over TV and papers and that's why he was suprised I didn't recognised him. I don't think he was registered cab driver.
Wouldn't it be more useful for there to be less moaning about taxi drivers ripping you off, like it has never happened in the UK, smirk ;) and a bit more positiveness. (BTW Taxi's from Manchester Airport are a rip off and the drivers are as miserable as a duck in muck). There are new members who won't know what a good price is in order to know if they are being ripped off or not. So here is my contribution;
I mainly use a taxi to/from Sava Temple area and the Airport. I have paid minimum 700RSD and maximum 1500RSD, the former was in a Zastava and the latter was in a new Merc. This seemed reasonable, perhaps I have been fleeced.
I also took a Taxi from Sava Temple to Francuska and paid 500RSD which I didn't argue about as it was cold, wet and windy and I had three heavy bags with me. Otherwise I would have argued, but on that day I didn't care, I appreciated the lift!
Block 61 to Sava Temple area 750RSD (Beogradski Taxi)
I don't know if any were rip offs. Perhaps other people could share the prices they have paid between certain key points.
Lee
LuxTax are the best in my opinion. They always arrive within 2 minutes of calling them and price is always very reasonable.
Usce to Vojvode Stepe 110 is 400 dinars, St Sava Church to Vojvode Stepe is 220 dinars, Delta City to Vojvode Stepe 110 (longest journey) is 550-600 dinars and to Nikola Tesla is 850 dinars.
All seems pretty reasonable to me having come from the UK! :)
Manwithbeard
09-12-09, 13:26
I normally use Beotaxi because I can order a taxi by text to 9700. Ordering a taxi by text or phone, entitles you to a 10% discount.
Ive never experienced any problems with this company's drivers. Although the cars are sometimes a little past their prime.
Getting a taxi from the Main Railway Station can present a challenge because Ive never succeeded in ordering a taxi by phone from there. However before getting into one of the taxis queued outside the station, I explain to the driver where I want to go and ask the price. If I dont like the price offered, then I ask another driver.
Ive always been able to agree a price less than twice the normal one way fare.
What the hell, its still cheap.
I normally use Beotaxi because I can order a taxi by text to 9700. Ordering a taxi by text or phone, entitles you to a 10% discount.
It's 20% discount dude
I understand some peoples frustration and YES some of the taxi drivers are low lifes . . . .
Having lived in NYC most of my life, I know the taxi scene inside out, so up front my attitude is DONT give me crap !!!! If they take a turned to yank up the fare by a few dinars, I give them hell...ask for a receipt (which they MUST give you) or treaten to call the police....But in general the taxi situation has gotten better compared to years past.
My personal favorite is LUX TAXI, the operators are always nice, the cars are new, majority dont smell of smoke, pleasant drivers, and I TELL them which way to drive, they usually ask the minute I get in !! There is a 20% discount on calls...SO ASK FOR IT!
P.S FORGOT........alway remember the taxi ID number from the hood of ther car, ALL taxis must be registered, you could later report them to the proper authorities.
Having used taxis a lot over 3 years in BG I find it odd that certain persons have had so much of a problem. 98% of the time i have found those I flag down to be good (which is much better than most other cities). Yes there are exceptions - don't get static ones from Train/Bus stations or Terazije - nor does one get a non-company one. But I have never not had the discount when I have called Lux or Pink or Taxi Bel or Beogradski(perhaps although I speak little Serbian they do know I am not a tourist and do understand the game).
Only twice have I (and my wife) yelled at taxi drivers whose meter was obviously malfunctioning, and once I had demaned his (licna carta) ID card number in Serbian along with the threat of calling the Police they both gracioucly accepted that I did know how much the fare should be and accepted my figure - at no time were they threatening - as a foreigner they will try it on, BUT never have they gone further than that, especially once they have been rumbled, not for fear of me as a foreigner, but of the trouble from others, such as the police, if I loudly threaten to call and say I have been conned - it simply isn't worth the few hundred dinars that the taxi ride costs.
In general though, and I have been in hundreds of taxis (as I refuse to go by public transport) I have had so few problems (<2% i.e 98% are bloody good) with being overcharged that I remember the odd occasion, and the guy who did it - it is a rarity, but to be on the safe side always call Luk/Pink/Beo/Yellow (and get the popust) rather than flag one down - and always get the JAT bus to Slavija then get a taxi (The airport taxis are much, much better than a few years ago BUT for the cost I always go by JAT bus to Slavija then get a taxi).
Taxis in Belgrade - where would you be without them (oh and that's from a foreigner with a (999) car here!).
Neil
Manwithbeard
10-12-09, 09:53
Tobias,
Thanks for correcting me about the discount percentage.
David
always get the JAT bus to Slavija then get a taxi (The airport taxis are much, much better than a few years ago BUT for the cost I always go by JAT bus to Slavija then get a taxi).
Firstly thanks for the detailed and useful post Neil.
Regarding taxis from the airport, the easiest thing to do (and I do this every time I travel) is to call Lux or one of the other taxi companies to send a taxi, as I would if I were in town.
They will ask you to go upstairs (to Departures) and a taxi will be there within a few minutes (they wait in he car park).
No need to take the airport bus (although no doubt its cheaper) and certainly no need to use the airport taxi mafia.
papasfritas
10-12-09, 12:09
As people have said the airport is simple, just go upstairs to departures and call or pick whoever is upstairs, those guys just dropped people off and they will be VERY happy to take anyone to the city instead of going empty, they will all turn on their meters and I've never had any problems with them. Of course everyone knows to avoid the Taxi Mafia in the arrivals downstairs.
Try to avoid picking up a Taxi that are sitting in front of popular clubbing locations such as the Splavs, Hotel Jugoslavija, Plastic in the winter, and any such nightlife location where you see a group of Taxis just waiting for people. Its better to call or just hail one from a nearby street.
In the city I have to agree Lux is probably the best, never had any issue with them and they have nice cars so no danger of getting some beat up old Yugo. Maxis and Pink also have a good reputation.
Nacionalni Taxi (http://www.nacionalnitaxi.co.rs/) is the newest and most modern Taxi service with the same vehicle type across the fleet, GPS units integrated into their fancy Taxi meters with bill printers included, the chances of getting ripped off with them are 0% as they are tracked real-time via their headquarters.
If you're interested in some Taxi adventure, flag down a Gold Taxi, they mainly work nights, all the other organizations claim they are illegal because they give 30% discount on phone calls and are providing unfair competition. I say adventure because they have shitty cars, drive like maniacs and I've suspected the driver to be on drugs a few times so if you're in for some funky conversation and insane driving they are the way to go. They are probably also good guides to the drugs/prostitution services in Belgrade if thats your cup of tea.
Haha, I used to pray to the dear Lord, I'd get to my destination safely, every time I got into a taxi! *g*
Though, I only had ONE bad experience...where the guy charged me 100 dinars for every piece of my luggage, on top of the 400 dinars I was already paying. So paid roughly... 800 dinars from the train station to my flat. :/
Only used Beotaxi after that.
aleksandarwest
08-05-10, 15:34
I travel a lot.Taxi in Serbia is 5 times cheaper then in a rest of Europe.So don t complain if you pay 2-5 euros more of regular price......i always give a tip of 5 euros.....:cool:
aleksandarwest
08-05-10, 15:38
i just come from Paris 70 euros to city from airport ...same price in Rome.....Last year in Sweden ,Arlanda to city 65 euros,Norway 100 euros,London 50 pounds.....Serbia is so cheap ,you can drive with taxi from airport to city for price of one bear in Norway....so don t cry for price
Unregistered
08-05-10, 15:41
And others here are complaining about the fuel???? I usually use Lux taxi...and most taxi companies give a
10-20% off the rate if you call in the ride! So always try to call prior to leaving for your destination...saves another few pennies!
Not that it makes the bad experiences any better, but for a truely HORRIBLE taxi experience, I don't think anything can be compared to Prague's taxis. These guys makes the 'airport mafia' in BG look like teddy bears in comparison. The worst culprit (this is a tip for anyone going to Prauge) is AAA, who have a mostly Skoda fleet painted in yellow. I've had them refuse things like opening a window, turning on the radio (or turning off), have had one guy once talk on 2 mobile phones at the same time (illegal in the Czech Republic) and come within about 5cm of running into the kerb at speed which would have surely flipped the car onto it's roof. As for the charges/ripoff factor.........................
BUT
I've managed to boycott taxi's there for over a year - by using Prague's wonderful public transport system AND - I'm going to get even with these bast*rds - as one of the main advisors to the consortium building the new 2nd airport in Prague, we WILL make sure that AAA and others like it are barred from coming anywhere nearby.
How's that for 'don't get mad - get even'?
:-)
Just had this experience yesterday:
I hailed a Beotaxi on the street to go from home to the office.
Jumped in the guy was on the phone. He was a mean looking cliché of nasty cabbie. 50 something. Rotting stumps for teeth. Greasy hair. Oddly sized bulging eyes.
After a few meters I pointed out the meter was not on, so he grunted and put it on...to the wrong tariff! So I said to him (in Serbian) "That a mistake, wrong tariff" he grunted again and put it on the right tariff.
He came off his call and started asking me the usual taxi questions "Where are you from, how long have you been here, what do you think if Belgrade, what do you think of our girls.." etc.
The journey was short, under 10 minutes. We arrived at my office and the fare was 215 dinars. I have a 500 note, so I said "200 change please", giving him a healthy tip of 85 dinars (30% of total).
As I ask for this he shakes his head and says I must (treba) treat him (castis). I asked him what he meant. He said "Baksheesh, you must give me baksheesh. Give me the 500, its nothing to you, only two coca colas in your country, you must."
The cheek! The boldness! After getting a healthy tip to then demand that I pay double the fare because its nothing to a rich foreigner like me. If I were woman he would probably have asked for a blowjob to pay back for the bombing.
I said to him, "I was going to give you a tip, that was why I asked for 200 change, not 285, but I have changed my mind. Give me my change please, all of it." Which he did, with an expression of suitable contempt and disappointment at my meanness.
I sincerely hope that this attitude - that foreigners are rich and therefore should pay more - is not taking hold in Serbia. The last time someone asked me for baksheesh like this, it was in Morocco. I loved the country but it was blighted by exactly this attitude: Everybody was either trying to rip you off (even hotels*) or guilt you into coughing up baksheesh on top of reasonable tips.
This guy was the sort of scumbag taxi driver that ruins foreigner's impression of Serbs and Serbia. People here are proud, and even in extremis would not ask for help or exploit a guest.
I sincerely hope he is off the road soon.
* A favourite trick in Morocco is to put guests in a suit (when they book a double room). When you check out, you are presented with a bill for the suite (often double). Even when you catch them at it, when you check in, they will tell you "You booked a suite, there are no ordinary rooms". You need to have a copy of the booking fax (with sending receipt) or e-mail printed and ready. Only then can you say "Stop bullshitting and give me a room". Thankfully I read about this practice before I went but 2 out of 3 hotels I was in tried.
that's outrageous!
like the landlords here who think they have the right to 100% retain your deposit even when you've kept the place in a pristine condition>>
a year ago my landlord was saying things to my (then) local gf like " how we so appreciate having C as a nice westerner here as our tenant' (!!)
he then stole 450 euros in its entirety re the deposit - when the gracious letting agency tried to intervene on my behalf, his "kindly" reaction was to the lady there "if you attempt to contact me again , I will beat you"
- strangely enough he wasn't big enough to try to intimidate/threaten the Belfast boy in any way!!
enough said . .
Jonaton's story made me laugh and cringe......Since I am Serbian I let them have it FULL force not just taxis, people in stores, supermarket etc etc...Since I speak both languages fluently and NO accent, they usually get really confused........BUT please dont let this give u wrong impressions, there are all types of people in the world...sleeze bags everywhere......Just 2 days ago I was reading an article in the NYTimes about
hotel concierges who demand money from yellow cabbies just because they hailed them down for hotel guests, the cab drivers stated they won't let them park in front of the hotel for a second without coughing up a few bucks...so it happens in all corners of the earth ... be wary, and wise..........
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